Mission

Give Children A Choice pioneered preschool education in rural villages in Laos with the belief that education is a key driver to exiting poverty. Education gives young people the ability to seek, think about and make choices. Thus, the name Give Children A Choice.

Give Children A Choice believes that a child’s formative years from birth through 5 years old are the most important years of a child’s development. Studies show that 90% of a child’s brain develops by the time a child reaches 6 years of age. The brain’s ability to change based on experiences diminishes exponentially after five years of age. 85% of a child’s intellect, social skills and personality are developed. Preschool education affects a child’s future in school and for life.

Give Children A Choice credits itself for building over 35 preschools in Laos. It has been credited for enabling the construction of hundreds. The Luang Prabang Education and Sports Department credits Give Children A Choice for pioneering preschool education in rural villages in their province, leading the country with the most extensive network of preschools.

Two Give Children A Choice’s principals moved to Laos to live the local education experience and the on-the-ground NGO experience in Laos. Partnering with international and local development organizations expands its experience repertoire. In the process, partners have fulfilled dreams to help the Lao children.

Give Children A Choice believes that new models must be developed, tested and implemented to enable villagers to self-sustain their children’s future education. Social ventures are one means of enabling villages to accomplish this.

'It’s pretty easy to get passionate about helping when you see living conditions firsthand. I am so thankful that you have the infrastructure already established so it will be easier for those of us who are arriving late to the cause. I have so many images in my head from our trip and I know over time that I will lose most of them, unfortunately. However, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the feelings of exhilaration and heartbreak, nor the desire to help make a difference.'

~ Denise McCarthy

2016-01-13T17:16:45+00:00

'It’s pretty easy to get passionate about helping when you see living conditions firsthand. I am so thankful that you have the infrastructure already established so it will be easier for those of us who are arriving late to the cause. I have so many images in my head from our trip and I know over time that I will lose most of them, unfortunately. However, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the feelings of exhilaration and heartbreak, nor the desire to help make a difference.' ~ Denise McCarthy

http://www.givechildrenachoice.org/testimonials/5836/

‘The children are now walking around the village, singing and reciting what they have learned in school. I have not experienced this in my twenty years in Aine Savanh Village.’

~ Mr. Loung Chak, Village Leader, Aine Savanh Village

2016-01-13T17:28:24+00:00

‘The children are now walking around the village, singing and reciting what they have learned in school. I have not experienced this in my twenty years in Aine Savanh Village.’ ~ Mr. Loung Chak, Village Leader, Aine Savanh Village

http://www.givechildrenachoice.org/testimonials/5840/

'I want to thank you deeply for your kindness and I would like to give special recognition to Give Children A Choice. GCAC has built and filled preschools with children in Luang Prabang Province. Without this, GCAC is still helping preschools teaching – learning materials and also teachers have been provided salaries by GCAC. This nonprofit organization is helping our children in schools. We thank all of you and your supporters. You are always good intention to help our education and many remote village children succeed in school and get a better education.’

'I want to thank you deeply for your kindness and I would like to give special recognition to Give Children A Choice. GCAC has built and filled preschools with children in Luang Prabang Province. Without this, GCAC is still helping preschools teaching – learning materials and also teachers have been provided salaries by GCAC. This nonprofit organization is helping our children in schools. We thank all of you and your supporters. You are always good intention to help our education and many remote village children succeed in school and get a better education.’ ~ Mr. Sychanh Bounathorn, Luang Prabang Education Basic Construction Academic Section

http://www.givechildrenachoice.org/testimonials/5841/

'Give Children A Choice was founded on the basic principles that all funds donated would be directed towards our projects, that we would set high standards and maintain them, and that we would strive towards creating long-lasting relationships with our supporters. We work on a tight budget, our overhead is kept to the bare minimum, and we operate efficiently and effectively.'

~ Debbie Davis, Executive Director, Give Children A Choice

2016-01-13T17:36:00+00:00

'Give Children A Choice was founded on the basic principles that all funds donated would be directed towards our projects, that we would set high standards and maintain them, and that we would strive towards creating long-lasting relationships with our supporters. We work on a tight budget, our overhead is kept to the bare minimum, and we operate efficiently and effectively.' ~ Debbie Davis, Executive Director, Give Children A Choice

http://www.givechildrenachoice.org/testimonials/5842/

‘I was able to see the real lives of these people and how the organization has found ways to help them even in the smallest ways. The organization is true to its cause — finding a way to help, going against all diversity and red tape, and working with the people directly.’

~ Yao Huang

2016-01-14T21:14:31+00:00

‘I was able to see the real lives of these people and how the organization has found ways to help them even in the smallest ways. The organization is true to its cause — finding a way to help, going against all diversity and red tape, and working with the people directly.’ ~ Yao Huang